Labornet Japan is a network of citizens, unionists, activists, scholars and others from all walks of life to share information especially about rights and struggles in and outside of Japan. Established in 2001, the group now has more than 500 members, and the membership is growing. The English site introduces some reports shared on Labornet Japan website and other sources outside of Japan.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Union members and citizens alike demonstrated
for a national minimum wage of 1,500 yen on April 15, led by a youth group Aequitas
(justice in Latin). This time, Aequitas called for greater participation from
various labor unions, and their flags were allowed to go up. Labor unions
including Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation), Zenrokyo (National Trade
Union Council), Zenroren (National Confederation of Trade Unions), and Federation
of Independent Unions of Japan got together at the Shinjuku Central Park in
Tokyo overcoming sectors and swelled up to a record 1,500 protesters.

“The labor union flags are so colorful and
beautiful,” said an activist AMAMIYA Karin with a ray of hope. “I’ve never seen
so many flags at a demonstration. I hope the Aequitas movement will promote the
labor movement to unite into one and gain a momentum.” A woman in her 20s who came
independently said, “This is my first time participating in a demonstration,
about which I learned through Twitter. People
around me are having difficulties as part-timers. I hope the standard of living
will be raised higher.” When asked if it is strange to see so many labor union
flags, she replied, “I felt relieved to see so many like-minded people here.” As
people expect labor unions to struggle for workers’ rights, the flags hoisted
together in large numbers and of various colors looked strong and powerful.

The former chief of Tokyo Federation of
Students’ Self-government Association TSUCHIYA Gentaro (82, photo), who was
arrested in the Sunagawa Struggle, poured out what was on his mind about the
struggle on Labornet TV on April 12,and revealed “the state crime
in the Sunagawa Trial.” As a boy, he was indoctrinated with militarism through
the Imperial Rescript on Education, but after the war he was awakened to peace
and had been at the forefront in the struggles against US military bases in
Japan. Last year, he was removed by the riot police with the chair at the
Henoko Gate of one of the most controversial anti-base struggles in Okinawa,
where he was sitting in.

“In 1950s and 1960s, 80 % of the US military
bases were on the mainland Japan,” he said. “But with the surge of the
opposition movements, the government moved most of them to Okinawa, which was
still under American occupation. As a result, we imposed great sacrifice on
Okinawa. I regret that we could not organize effective movements against the
relocation of the bases. Now we must fight in solidarity with Okinawa.”

He added, “Trump has put the Korean Peninsula
in a very dangerous situation. Spy planes are taking off from the Yokota Air
Base. Trump regards Japan and South Korea as subordinates and cares less
whatever happens to us. Our anxiety will never be eradicated as long as we have
US military bases in Japan. Let us raise our voices in order to abolish the
bases.”